BOSTON — Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced on Friday significant changes to the state’s emergency family shelter system, promising to phase out the use of hotels and motels for homeless families over the next couple of years. This decision triggers broader changes aimed at supporting families facing homelessness and addressing the considerable fiscal challenges associated with the current shelter approach.
Governor Healey highlighted the unsustainability of the existing family shelter system, which currently supports around 7,500 families, noting how the reliance on temporary hotel and motel accommodations has not proven to be effective for long-term housing solutions. “We’ve taken significant action to rein in its growth, and we’ve seen tangible results,” she stated during the announcement.
During the past few months, the number of families seeking emergency assistance has reportedly declined, hovering between 15 to 18 families daily—a drop from up to 40 families. This decline, Healey suggested, provides the opportunity to rethink the system and move toward more permanent housing options.
Implementing these new policies will require coordination among various state agencies and stakeholders, as the administration emphasizes the goal of placing families in stable, secure environments where they can thrive rather than remaining isolated in hotels, which often lack necessary services. According to Governor Healey, these hotel-based shelters are not conducive for the support services families require.
Under the new proposal, starting on December 10, families will be categorized based on their needs—either entering the "Rapid Shelter Track" or the "Bridge Shelter Track." The Rapid Shelter Track will provide families with 30 days of transitional support aimed at swiftly finding permanent housing, recognizing their capacity to move along quickly. Conversely, the Bridge Shelter Track is intended for families with more complex needs, such as late-term pregnant women or those with disabilities, where the process to stability may take longer.
This restructuring to mitigate the shelter system's burdens follows other recent measures. Earlier this year, Governor Healey declared a state of emergency to address rising homelessness, capping the number of families accessing the shelter at 7,500. Changes included limiting families’ stints at overflow safety-net sites to just five days.
Indeed, the prevalence of homelessness has been spurred by several factors, including increased rents and the recent influx of migrants to the state. Gladys Vega, president of La Colaborativa, noted the growing need for affordable housing. “Many Massachusetts residents are just one paycheck away from homelessness,” she observed, highlighting the precarious position of many families struggling to maintain housing amid rising costs.
Governor Healey's administration is also seeking to bridge the financial gap by augmenting the state's temporary rental subsidy program. The plan aims to provide families with up to $25,000 per year for two years, which is significantly higher than the current limits. This increase is intended to alleviate some of the burdens families face when seeking stable housing.
While the administration’s plan must still receive legislative approval, advocates for homeless families have expressed concern about the timeline for implementation and the adequacy of support available during transition periods. Many advocates have raised alarms about the possibility of families being left with insufficient options at the end of the proposed limits if more permanent solutions are not simultaneously enforced.
Massachusetts has tackled another recent challenge with the emergency assistance program, aimed at homeless families, seeking to address the loading pressures on the system. The aim now is not only to create space for families but to make systemic changes to improve outcomes sustainably. Advocates are driven by the urgent need to prevent families from falling through the cracks during this transition.
Looking forward, there is hope for vulnerable families as these plans roll out, but for now, the state must carefully navigate the balance between ensuring immediate assistance and building pathways toward lasting stability. This newly outlined initiative, with its phased approach, could prove to be pivotal for many families who currently rely on temporary shelters, which often fail to provide the resources and support they need.
